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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To shop my friend into the council?

161 replies

Nesssie · 27/02/2018 16:45

First time poster...
Not sure whether I would be doing it out of spite or not.

A 'friend' has bought a field, built a huge barn and hidden a mobile home inside it. She lives there with her partner, occasionally his child, and 5 dogs, 3 cats.

They think that if they live there for a certain period of time (10years I think) then the council have to let them build and live there. Its illegal and they don't pay council tax etc.

She has quit her job, sold her house and moved into the middle of nowhere. I think she is depressed and isolated and her only way of getting attention is to buy more and more puppies.

Despite having all the land, the dogs are kept in a tiny room and I feel really bad for them. I have tried talking to her about it but it has just led to arguments and I have chosen to end the friendship.

I also worry what would happen if they have an emergency, the mobile home is completely hidden so no one would know if there was a fire etc.

AIBU to tell the council they are living there illegally? They will eventually be found out anyway so I think is it better it happens now, rather than a couple of years down the line when they have used all their money and have no options? I really don't know how else to help her.

I know that she will assume it was me that told, but the friendship is over anyway.

OP posts:

QuackPorridgeBacon · 02/03/2018 10:11

Ah ok. I get it now.

MissBartlettsconscience · 02/03/2018 13:45

I think Kursk lives in the US so tries very hard to pay for as little as possible.

Kursk · 02/03/2018 14:38

I think Kursk lives in the US so tries very hard to pay for as little as possible.

Yes we do, we have a more libertarian view on life. (Small government, you are responsible for yourself)

Our town doesn’t have bin collection. You take your rubbishy to the dump.

Social care should be a community issue, not a government issue.

Kpo58 · 02/03/2018 15:51

Social care should be a community issue, not a government issue.

That sounds fine in theory, but what happens if you need help, but aren't liked by your community or they are too busy to help?

BearPear · 02/03/2018 16:25

Planning permission is needed for a “mobile home” which is sited & occupied and council tax is chargeable as a residence or holiday home.
There was one of those static caravans parked at a farm near where I used to live and permission was needed to keep it there. They said it was used as office space during the day for the stable yard staff when in reality someone was using it as their home. Planning consent was refused so they moved it round the back of the stables out of sight but several people reported it, including me.

DGRossetti · 02/03/2018 16:37

Yes we do, we have a more libertarian view on life. (Small government, you are responsible for yourself)

remind us all what the federal budget is, again. Per capita ? (It would be churlish - and passe - to ask why US citizens aren't to be trusted with Kinder Eggs though).

Our town doesn’t have bin collection. You take your rubbish to the dump.

And the less able ?

Social care should be a community issue, not a government issue.

OK ... perhaps there's some sense in that, I'm a big fan of the P.J. O'Rourke school of political philosophy ...

Kursk · 02/03/2018 17:22

remind us all what the federal budget is, again. Per capita ? it’s high, something like $11,000. Plus the state budget.

And the less able ? you help out your neighbors. It’s just what you do.

Worldsworstcook · 02/03/2018 19:22

You are not going to get anywhere nagging or complaining to her. It also seems she's not for listening so there's no point trying to persuade her she's unreasonable with the dogs.

Re the caravan, she's not causing anyone any bother, she won't get anywhere with her PP but if she wants to believe that she will that's fine. She's hurting no one. Let it slide.

The dogs though, perhaps a better thing to do is show her very exciting dog enclosures she can buy or even make herself. Turn it into a hobby per se but you are getting what you want to helping the pooches escape the back room. If I see any I'll let you know.

Worldsworstcook · 02/03/2018 19:30

In the meantime can you make up excuses to take the dogs out for walks, say you want to start exercising and could you use dogs as an incentive?

Tapandgo · 02/03/2018 20:09

I just dont get people who want to dob people in it for anything like benefits, tax, housing

Maybe because those of us paying tax pay for the schooling, healthcare, lighting, policing, fire service etc that those who do not pay tax still take advantage of. Tax avoiders and those abusing the benefits and housing system just put the bills up for everybody else ~ and lead to chronic underfunding of vital services.

Eliza9917 · 05/03/2018 12:47

BearPear Fri 02-Mar-18 16:25:04
Planning permission is needed for a “mobile home” which is sited & occupied and council tax is chargeable as a residence or holiday home.
There was one of those static caravans parked at a farm near where I used to live and permission was needed to keep it there. They said it was used as office space during the day for the stable yard staff when in reality someone was using it as their home. Planning consent was refused so they moved it round the back of the stables out of sight but several people reported it, including me.

Why? How did someone having a caravan in their own field affect you?

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